IMO 2020 FAQ

Om IMO 2020

What is IMO 2020?

From January 1st 2020 onwards, all seagoing vessels will have to reduce sulphur oxides by 85%. The new regulation is set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) with the aim of cutting sulphur oxide gas emissions, protecting public health and supporting the environment. Vessels must use marine fuels with a maximum sulphur content of 0.5% compared to the current limit of 3.5%.

What is the scope of IMO 2020?

The regulation will apply globally and throughout the industry to fuels used in the open sea. It will affect vessel operators, refineries, and global oil markets. In the Environmental Control Areas (ECA zones) an even stricter regulation remains, limiting the sulphur content to 0.1%.

How can vessel operators comply with the IMO 2020 regulation?

Vessel operators have the following choices to comply with the new IMO 2020 sulphur limits:

1. Use Scrubbers

They can use Scrubbers (emission cleaning technology) to remove pollutants from the ship’s exhaust, which allows them to continue using higher-sulphur fuels. However, the process of installing Scrubbers is limited and expensive due to space and capacity constraints and will increase operating costs. In addition, the price and availability of higher sulphur fuels after 2020 remains uncertain.

2. Switch to non-petroleum-based fuels

They can switch to non-petroleum-based fuels, such as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). This is feasible for newer vessels with appropriate specifications. However, the infrastructure to support the use of LNG is currently limited in scope and availability. Experts predict that by 2020 approximately 250-500 vessels, or a maximum of 10-12% of the global container fleet, will either be equipped with pollution cleaning technology or will be able to burn LNG [Source Clarksons Research - June 2019].

3. Switch to a Very Low Sulphur Fuel (VLSF) or MGO

They can switch to a Very Low Sulphur Fuel (VLSF) or MGO that complies with the new rules (Most likely choice). However, the cost, widespread availability and specifications of a new fuel for use in marine engines are still uncertain. The petroleum industry needs to adapt refineries and supply chains and is likely to pass these costs on to the market.

By the use of icons for the means of IMO 2020 compliance in combination with the Information on CO2 emissions Sea Explorer allows you to obtain full transparency on the sustainability of the Services.

Who controls the implementation of the IMO 2020 regulation?

The Port State Control of the respective state is responsible. They will check logbooks, use sniffer devices and sniffer drones.

What will be the fine if a carrier does not comply with IMO 2020?

Depending on the jurisdiction, the penalties are high fines, ship arrest or even imprisonment of the captain.

What are the impacts and risks?

The prospect of IMO 2020 has resulted in a high level of uncertainty about availability of petroleum products and prices. It is currently not possible to indicate an accurate future price level for IMO 2020 compliant fuels, as prices are affected by several factors. In particular, geopolitical events such as sanctions and war, the actions of OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) and the general demand of the world economy for oil influence the price of crude oil and ultimately the price of fuel products. The IMO 2020 regulation will have another significant effect in addition to the regular volatility of global oil prices.

At this stage all we can predict is that it will cost more than currently used fuels. Today’s forecast assumes a short- to midterm increase in bunker prices between US$ 180 and US$ 400 per TEU (incl. all implementation costs). This range is very wide, but cannot be specified any further at present, as the aspects mentioned have a large influence on the price development. Due to the significant increase in bunker prices, every company involved in sea freight will be confronted with rising and more volatile fuel costs. With the Secured Energy Plan, Kuehne + Nagel offers its customers a risk management tool to secure and set the bunker price at certain levels. The Secured Energy Plan is available for volume contracts from approx. 2,500 TEU. Please ask your local Kuehne + Nagel representative for further details.

Support från Kuehne + Nagel

What is the positioning of Kuehne + Nagel towards IMO 2020

Shipping per ocean cargo had always been an environmental-friendly way to transport. IMO 2020 ensure that ocean transportation remains the most environmentally friendly and sulphur efficient mode of transportation. Kuehne + Nagel welcomes any industry approach to improve environmental protection and fully supports this initiative.

By default, all fuel prices in the contracts are variable, i.e. they follow the upward or downward movement of the oil price. Since the fourth quarter of 2019 all contracts have already been swiched to the IMO 2020 compliant fuels VLSF / MGO for the BAF calculations, which tend to be more expensive than the Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) previously used.

How does Kuehne + Nagel support me as a customer in regard to IMO 2020?

Our ultimate goal as Kuehne + Nagel is to run our customer’s business best in class without disruptions but at competitive prices. We provide you with up-to-date information, transparency and risk management tools, enabling you to react appropriately to possible disruptions in your supply chain. Our experts will constantly strive to successfully solve potential IMO 2020 challenges for you. Kuehne + Nagel assuresfull transparency in fuel consumption reflecting individual trade factors per TEU. To offset any financial risk we offer the Secured Energy Plan to hedge against the volatility of fuel prices. Please ask your local Kuehne + Nagel representative for further details.

Miljöpåverkan

What impact does IMO 2020 have on health and environment?

With the implementation of IMO 2020, the International Maritime Organisation aims to reduce total sulphur emissions from ships by 77% from 2020 until 2025. The overall objective is to reduce the negative impact of shipping on human health by decreasing air pollution from sulphur emissions by 68% globally and in particular in the coastal areas of Asia-Pacific, Africa and Latin America.

Please note that the IMO 2020 regulation focuses on the reduction of sulphur emissions, not on the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. So there will not be a direct impact on the global warming, but reducing sulphur emissions helps prevent acid rain and combats ocean acidification.

People benefit the most from this. Significant health improvements list the reduction of stroke, asthma, cardiovascular disease, and lung cancer as well as pulmonary disease. The International Maritime Organisation states that more than 570,000 premature deaths can be avoided between 2020 and 2025 due to the new regulations.

[Source International Maritime Organisation - June 2019]

Kostnadseffekter

What will be the impact on freight rates and operations?

According to current calculations, the expected increase in costs will have a significant impact on the overall prices of container transportation and on freight rates. Whilst the implementation date for IMO 2020 is January 1st 2020, we anticipate freight rates to increase as early as the end of the third quarter of 2019. Therefore, long-term agreements for both full and part load containers will include a price adjustment method also known as Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF). In order to offset price risks associated with the foreseeable increase of volatility in freight costs, Kuehne + Nagel provides the possibility of fix fuel costs up to three years in advance at an upfront payment with the Secured Energy Plan. The Secured Energy Plan is available for volume contracts from approx. 2,500 TEU. Please ask your local Kuehne + Nagel representative for further details.

How is the BAF calculated?

Freight rates are determined by a formula based on the recent historic price development (either monthly or quarterly):

The fuel consumption per TEU is the average fuel consumption on a trade lane considering variables like transit time, fuel efficiency, a severe weather buffer, as well as head haul - back haul Imbalances.

Compliance Specifications

Is there a trend amongst carriers towards complying with the new regulation?

As per February 2020, the majority of carriers have used IMO 2020 compliant fuels (VLSF / MGO) to meet legal requirements. Scrubbershave been installed at around 15 % of the global vessel capacity [Source Clarksons Research - Feb 2020], while LNG technology theuse of biofuels, ammonia and hydrogen are still in the early stages.

Are there different cost elements in my cargo contract depending on the technology used on board of a ship to comply with the law?

No, our pricing is based on the use of the globally available, IMO 2020 compliant fuel, namely VLSF or MGO.

What is a Scrubber?

A Scrubber is a device for cleaning the exhaust gases of a ships main engine by pumping water through its funnel. The sulphur and other particles are "washed out", but there are problems with the subsequent handling/disposal of the washing water containing the particles. Several countries, including Singapore and China, have established strict rules for the use of certain Scrubbers (Open Loop Scrubber) and for the treatment of the washed product as toxic waste, making the use of this technology more expensive.

What are the different types of Scrubbers?

In general, there are three types of Scrubbers: those that work in an open system by pumping seawater through the funnel of the vessel, those that work in a closed system and keep the “washout” on board the ship, and hybrid scrubbers which are used to operate sometimes closed and sometimes open. However, due to the size and power of the main engines of larger container vessels, the handling of the washout may vary. In particular, the environmental impacts of Open Loop Scrubbers are constantly the subject of controversy. Kuehne + Nagel follows the progress of the global container fleet in terms of IMO 2020 compliance and Scrubber installations via its online platform for sea liner services, Sea Explorer, and will inform you about the latest developments in this field.

What impact do Scrubbers really have?

Scrubbers are , most likely , an interim technology solution. As per February 2020, approx . 15 % of the global container fleet is equipped with Scrubbers , measured on the number of vessels in service [Source Clarksons Research - Feb 2020]. The impact of Scrubbers on the environment, ports and coastal waters is debated with controversy.

Amongst others, in China and Singapore open-loop Scrubbers are still banned in inland port waters and coastal shipping Emission Control Area as the environmental benefits are questionable. Current knowledge indicates that the use of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is preferable against Scrubbers for the purpose of sulphur reduction.

Can I buy transportation with LNG vessels or vessels using Scrubbers / VLSF or MGO only?

From a price point of view, Kuehne + Nagel does not differentiate whether a carrier has invested in technologies such as Scrubbers or LNG propulsion, or decides to buy cleaner fuel. However, Sea Explorer - Kuehne + Nagel's digital platform for sea liner services - provides our customers with an overview of the status and how each vessel carrying their goods is compying with the IMO 2020 regulations.. By the use of icons for the means of IMO 2020 compliance in combination with the information on CO2 emissions Sea Explorer allows to obtain full transparency on the sustainability of the services.

What is the Low Sulphur Surcharge?

In the designated Emission Control Areas (ECA) in Northern Europe, North America and parts of Asia, the use of even cleaner fuel with a sulphur content of 0,1% is mandatory. This type of fuel is even more expensive and will be priced separately.

Is the Low Sulphur Surcharge (LSF) limited to Intra Asia or does it account for all trades?

The LSF is charged wherever the specific, very clean fuel is used. The focus is on Northern Europe, the USA and parts of Asia.

Can different types of fuel be mixed in one tank?

No. After cleaning the tanks, the operator needs to stick to the cleaner fuel. Otherwise, the tank has to be cleaned again, which is highly costly.